Dak Prescott reveals Cowboys' priorities after being called out over $10,000,000 fan tour
Dallas Cowboys star quarterback Dak Prescott responded on Thursday after the team was criticized over their new fan tour. The Texan franchise isn't going through its best moment, but owner Jerry Jones keeps finding ways to keep fans entertained and engaged.
The Cowboys claim the tours of The Star and AT&T Stadium combined are expected to generate around $10,000,000 of annual revenue for the NFC East team.
Prescott replied to those who called out this innovation, saying that it's not an issue for him to have fans walking around the stadium.
“For one, this is all I know. I'm not going to let a couple people touring the building distract me. I'm present where I am. I think, honestly, it's an excuse."
Prescott compared having fans to having reporters in attendance. He says that potential distractions come with the territory of being on the Cowboys and that professionalism remains a priority.
"It's being professional, some things you deal with. Obviously, I guess, the nature of this organization, the tours are probably 10 times more than other places, if other places are doing them. ... You got to embrace it. Honestly."
Dak Prescott also dismissed having fans around as being a factor in the team winning or losing:
“I don't think so. If that's the case then the crowd is a distraction when you get out there. It's the NFL. It's a business that those exact reasons that this game is entertaining, that people want to watch it, that you have the fans that you have and you can create the relationships. If you're distracted by that then you're distracted by the fans in any arena you get into.”
Dak said he's embracing the tour and not thinking too much about it, but other people, including former players, have taken issue with it.
JJ Watt questioned Jerry Jones' priorities over Cowboys' tour
Former Defensive Player of the Year and current CBS NFL analyst JJ Watt voiced his concerns over the Cowboys' fan tour and questioned Jerry Jones' priorities amid a 3-3 start to the season and is third in its division.
During his appearance on the "Pat McAfee Show" on Wednesday, Watt said he felt like the organization was trying to make the tour something bigger than it needed to be, even going so far as to say that the game wasn't the most important part of the day for fans.
"All different things going on. You feel like you're an exhibit at a much bigger circus. There are just a 100 things going on. They have those dancers up there. They have a concert going on. You're walking through a tunnel through a bar ... The game doesn't feel like it's the most important part of the day there," Watt said.
The Cowboys haven't won a Super Bowl since 1996 and unless they drastically turn their season around, they may have to wait another year to taste another title.